WHEN I was 10, my father took me to a trainer called Captain FE Goldman, with my show pony, Solitaire. My father explained I couldn’t hold the pony except in a double bridle, but Captain Goldman told him to take it home, adding, “Your daughter might be coming home tomorrow if she can’t ride in a snaffle.”
He was a tough trainer but succeeded with those of us who could take it, including Ruth McMullen, Angela Tucker and Lorna Clarke. I still hear his voice now when riding or teaching.
I am keen on taking the time to establish a seat, rather than just buying an expensive saddle – nowadays people have all the money and gear, but they don’t learn to ride properly. There’s a lot of ignorance about tack and feeding, too. I see horses stuffing down hay until the minute they go cross-country. In the old days, they wouldn’t have seen hay for several hours before competition.
ALL IN THE BUILD
Denne historien er fra October 22, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ?  Logg pÄ
Denne historien er fra October 22, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg pÄ
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
âHappy hunting, everyone'
âThe season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits
'Monaco deserved this victory
Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaidâs role, Harrie Smoldersâ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix
'It had to end sometime'
The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports
'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"
The greatest gift of all
Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options
Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but whatâs the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season
Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead
In bygone days
Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran OâBrien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London
'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life